I really like Sonus Faber but the new models no longer have a warm sound. They are a neutral speaker these days. Try to listen before you buy.
I can’t comment on the others.
I can’t comment on the others.
New Speakers $10K -$20K
Hi everyone. A few bullet points and thank you all for your advice! Sorry for the length just trying to help you to help me.
* A Florida family room untreated and large. 30’ x 30’ with 12’ cathedral ceiling.
* I sit basically on left half of the room, the right side of the room is billiards and wet bar.
* I just turned 65, so these are my forever speakers!
* I am 70% HT and watching TV, and 30% 2Ch, but with a little room improvement 2ch listening will go up. I want better sounding 2 ch but I’m in a very live room.
* The front wall “half width” of my room is a stacked-stone marble wall.
* to my rear is a 16’ opening to a large kitchen.
* to my immediate left is a window 40” and 12’ of sliders looking into pool.
* just sold Paradigm Persona 7F towers, (2) Persona subs and Persona center ch. Amazing speakers in a poor large room. But I do think the Be. mid-range became a bit fatiguing.
* I need a company that also makes a great center ch for HT., Legacy Audio does.
Based on WAF etc. some treatments will be done but not greatly. More pillows, a defuser or two, maybe a bit more.
My needs: warmth, no harshness at the top, not massive speakers, WAF!
I still love movies with the grandkids, big subwoofers won’t be approved. “Eye Candy” is what she likes beautiful cabinetry, Sonus Fabre, and custom finishes available from Bill D. at Legacy.
Current candidates are:
1. Sonus Fabre Amati Tradition in the red stained finish - “gorgeous”, her favorite!
2. Legacy Calibres in a custom veneer with 2+ subs that are not too big. I really love the Aeris with Wavelet processor but they are too tall for her! Remember this is a family room.m we use for everything.
3. Sonus Fabre Serafino Tradition in the same beautiful red stain wood veneer.
4. Spendor, not terribly familiar but they do make a center ch, and are respected and are considered warm. Really wish Harbeth made a center ch.
Now I am looking forward to your suggestions!
Related equipment:
Classe’ CAV 180 - 5 x 180W
Marantz 8805 Pre-pro
Oppo 203
Innuous streamer/DVD ripper
Kaleidescape movie server
Sonance DSP 8-130 MK2 for surrounds
Paradigm in ceiling (3pr) for surrounds
Thank you all!
Dave
* A Florida family room untreated and large. 30’ x 30’ with 12’ cathedral ceiling.
* I sit basically on left half of the room, the right side of the room is billiards and wet bar.
* I just turned 65, so these are my forever speakers!
* I am 70% HT and watching TV, and 30% 2Ch, but with a little room improvement 2ch listening will go up. I want better sounding 2 ch but I’m in a very live room.
* The front wall “half width” of my room is a stacked-stone marble wall.
* to my rear is a 16’ opening to a large kitchen.
* to my immediate left is a window 40” and 12’ of sliders looking into pool.
* just sold Paradigm Persona 7F towers, (2) Persona subs and Persona center ch. Amazing speakers in a poor large room. But I do think the Be. mid-range became a bit fatiguing.
* I need a company that also makes a great center ch for HT., Legacy Audio does.
Based on WAF etc. some treatments will be done but not greatly. More pillows, a defuser or two, maybe a bit more.
My needs: warmth, no harshness at the top, not massive speakers, WAF!
I still love movies with the grandkids, big subwoofers won’t be approved. “Eye Candy” is what she likes beautiful cabinetry, Sonus Fabre, and custom finishes available from Bill D. at Legacy.
Current candidates are:
1. Sonus Fabre Amati Tradition in the red stained finish - “gorgeous”, her favorite!
2. Legacy Calibres in a custom veneer with 2+ subs that are not too big. I really love the Aeris with Wavelet processor but they are too tall for her! Remember this is a family room.m we use for everything.
3. Sonus Fabre Serafino Tradition in the same beautiful red stain wood veneer.
4. Spendor, not terribly familiar but they do make a center ch, and are respected and are considered warm. Really wish Harbeth made a center ch.
Now I am looking forward to your suggestions!
Related equipment:
Classe’ CAV 180 - 5 x 180W
Marantz 8805 Pre-pro
Oppo 203
Innuous streamer/DVD ripper
Kaleidescape movie server
Sonance DSP 8-130 MK2 for surrounds
Paradigm in ceiling (3pr) for surrounds
Thank you all!
Dave
64 responses Add your response
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Have your wife take a look at the Joseph Audio Perspectives in Sepele for size and appearance, then add a single Pulsar for a center. BTW, if you’re at all serious about 2-channel and want to do any of these speakers justice (it’s Sonus Faber btw) you’ll need to add a good stereo preamp or integrated amp. Best of luck. |
Since you're a SF admirer, I can admit having a soft spot for these. https://usato.audiograffiti.com/public/img/annunci/2018517_183051_0XN4WP.jpg $20 large means at least 1//2 off older stuff that can play with the $50K+E ticket stuff. You're not sneaking these imagining SO doesn't notice. Outrageous/Beautiful just to look at. What ever finish that is, I'm in. Amati Futura Homage vs Stradavari? A choice id like to be conflicted with. I'm more of a last year 911 with a manual. Stradavari takes command of any listening room. Strads will "best" the 2 in bass obviously. They are obnoxious as they are breathtaking. A 6 pack of REL No.25's and I'm cooking with all burners. |
Focal Sopra checks every box you’ve laid out. With a room that size, I believe the largest model, the Sopra 3’s would be appropriate. And that’s great considering they are the best sounding in the line, if you have enough room to handle them (too much bass if the room is too small).They are great for movies/HT. I use them dual purpose music movies as well. I believe Focal makes a center channel. I haven’t found that necessary. They have beautiful cabinetry, especially the two new 40th anniversary colors. Pure eye candy. They always get complimented. They have a rich, full bodied sound.They come in your budget at $20k. If the 3’s are too massive, the Sopra 2’s still check every box (they’re the ones I have). |
I should I am not opposed to buying used or demos. And yes I might consider adding a quality integrated for 2 ch.. i might raise my budget a bit to say $25k total. The Legacy Focus XD with Wavelet processor is being considered. With a active bottom section and no need to buy subs the budget and WAF seem acceptable. However those speakers (any speakers) will need to be close 6-12” from the stone wall and they are rear ported, any thoughts? Would a Lyngdorf MP60 be a big upgrade over the Marantz 8805 - it’s room correction technology is now being used by Mac. Last, any thoughts on a used warm integrated? I am leaning a bit towards Sonus Fabre but more research to be done. Thank you all again! Dave |
I was going to recommend the white pair of Meridian dsp8000se speakers until you specified WAF. I have a pair of persona 7f and as much as the amaze meI could never recommend them for a lively room, Fire your dealer. I didn’t see the components you’re using but I suspect legacy will be easier to drive than SF so a safe buy if you need to stay on budget, tekton maybe? Klipsch will wear you out faster then the persona’s did. |
No point wasting money on expensive gear unless you can set the speaker and listening positions properly. There are not many speakers at any price that will give you your money's worth 6" - 12" from the front wall. Except one; Larsen. Designed to go right against the front wall. Don't let the small size fool you. I have 8.2s in a large, open family room/kitchen. Most folks start looking for subs; amazing low frequency response and power handling for speakers of this size. A friend has the TOTL Larsen 9s, also in a large room. Sold his big Sound Labs electrostatics after auditioning the Larsen speakers. |
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I would look at the Wilson Benesch Vector's and they will pair well with the WB Fulcrum as your center channel. I have the Vertexes here and they are one of the cleanest, most transparent speakers I have ever heard but without being bright. The WB cabinets are pretty special and simply allow more sound to travel forward. The Vectors are very similar to the Vertexes, just bigger as they are smallish floorstanders rather than standmounts. I have them siting next to Vivid Kaya 45s which are also phenomenal but the Kaya C35 center is not available yet. WB is neutral to maybe a hair forward which makes them radically warmer than the Paradigms that you just sold. If you are planning on listening to two channel audio, a good integrated amp will improve performance in your front channels. The Classe is a nice amp but what the Marantz will usually miss having optimal gain for two channel and it is not uncommon for a combo like that to sound a little thin in two channel. Especially in Direct and Pure Direct. Obviously, Legacy goes very well with legacy. If you opted for Wiloson Benesch, I would look at the AVM A 6.2ME integrated amp as the perfect Integrated to match with those speakers. |
https://www.hawthornestereo.com/spendor-a1c-center-speaker.html https://www.ebay.com/itm/114847034883 <<---- older model but more volume capacity, i think, if that matters |
Thanks again to everyone! I know of the Larsens, very intriguing speakers. And yes they are purposely placed against the back wall. They sell a surround/center that is not a dedicated center ch. $15K for the 9’s about $2k for the dual purpose speaker. Not being able to audition in Fl. Is a problem. The new Perlistens should be showing up at B&M stores soon. Not inexpensive but very interesting articles and YouTube’s. Those towers and center hit the top of my budget. |
For your listening needs, I'd say at least check out the Audio Solutions Figaro L at $10k. With it's silk dome tweeter, it should not assault your ears like your Persona apparently did. AS offers incredible bang for the buck. There is also a matching center channel speaker. If the L is too big, they also offer the smaller Figaro M at $7.5k. I heard their Virtuoso M at an audio show, and it was quite impressive. Actually, if your range is up to $20, the Virtuoso M may be an option. https://www.audiosolutions.lt/products/figaro/figaro-l https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/audiosolutions-figaro-l-loudspeaker |
If you can't bring them any farther out into the room, then either non-ported or front ported may be the only options. Focal Kanta 3 is front ported and a very good speaker. Magico A3 is non-ported and very good as well. Focal Sopra 2 and Sopra 3 are ported at the bottom of the speaker; I'm not sure how that would work out when placed that close to the front wall. |
Everyone here is very astute. Sopra 3’s on the shortlist. Wish here in Fl. I could demo the Larsens which require a back wall. while the room is big, about 30’ x 30’ we sit on the left side, actually 17’. Behind the stone covered wall we sit in front of is a small hallway leading to a pool bathroom. So where we sit is about 9-10’ from main speakers flanking our 85” Sony TV. Directly behind us is maybe 4-5’ of flooring then bar stools to a kitchen counter. Hence why speakers need to be near the wall we sit in front of, with the bathroom on the other side of the that stone wall. The right half of the room is truly 30’ deep with a bar at one end and a 9’ billiard table. |
In the May/June issue of The Absolute Sound Alan Taffel talks about compact reference systems… which addresses, a little, the close to the wall speaker problem. He mentioned the Wilson Duette as about the only choice when up against the wall. You might read his section on speakers. My Sonus Faber Amati Traditional are six feet from the rear wall. |
I have those Legacy’s Focus/ Marquis Center with the Marantz 8805. I have mine about a foot from the walls as I have to. I currently have a Lyngforf on order (a 40) for the exact reasons you suggested,,, the room correction. I am told there is no comparison between X32 and Room Perfect, especially on ill handling rooms. But I’ll have to wait and see. Keep us posted ... |
Hello, My recommendation is the Revel 228 be due to these being front ported and the tweeter is so good you will not need to treat the walls. They have a great center channel speaker to match if you want to upgrade. If you can get them away from the wall I would say spring for the $16k Revel 328 be. They are rear ported so you need at least 2’ away from the front wall. If you get the $10k 228be you can spring for 2 JL Audio f110 subs for around $8k. I have not listened to the 328be but I have demoed the 228be I would also look into a two channel preamp with home theater pass through. Emotiva has one and it’s really great. This lets you use your two channel system with your home theater. The Emotiva has a built in crossover for the subs. This is what I am using now until I upgrade my system. I have the Marantz 7704 Pre/pro. I know what all of this sounds like even your Classe amp. I am using an Ayre VX-5 at the moment. Emotive lets you return stuff if it doesn’t sound good. |
If you want to try something different as well as special Spatial Audio Labs make a Exceptional open baffle speaker with the excellent Custom Beyma AMT tweeter-midrange driver with Nothing in the Xover path , only 2 capacitors and a inductor for a very pure signal path. A 12 inch MidBass Driver and your choice a 12 or 15 inch Bass that is powered by a direct coupled 250:watt Hypex amplifier ,but the upgraded VH Audio Odam capacitors. The X3 and X5 Model and under $9 k .and 97 db efficient . |
Will be reading up on all suggestions later today, thank you all! Question: would the $14k Lyngdorf Pre-pro with their Room Correction, now being used by McIntosh, compensate for speakers being too close to the wall? If that technology works I have many choices. If it won’t help I need to consider sealed or front ported speakers. As of now the Revel 228be and the Focal Kanta 3 are contenders. |
If I would have 20K for speakers I wouldn`t think twice. Cube Audio Nenuphar or Mini Nenuphar with their Sub. I think you could make a deal. I have a pair of Nenuphar Minis and couldn`t be happier. If I would have larger space and a bit more money I would buy their bass units. Full range single driver - no crossover needed- goes down till 37-40Hz effortless. ACDC could have a bit more bass, but I think It`s more about the LP pressing I play, because the Robert Ludwig press ZZ Top knocks my head off and many more. I feel like it`s the best bang for the buck speakers in this range. You get exactly what is on the record, I never streamed but planning. It doesn`t make bad records play good, but good ones really shine. I auditioned many other speakers and never had a second thought after. It does not need much backspace. |
I have no idea why nobody has mentioned Goldenear's Triton line. Maybe I'll be accused of being a neo-audiophile just for bringing it up. Their reference speaker is $10,000. So they're at the bottom of your price list, but damn I think they are wonderful speakers. I have the Triton 2+ which retails for $4,000 a pair. Other equipment: TNT VPI 3, Audio Research PH-7, Audio Research Reference 2 Mk. 2 Preamp, SMC Audio Amp (upgraded McCormack) and McCormack SACD player. The speakers are the new boys in the neighborhood and I love them. You should read the reviews. All amazing. The only ding was their looks, but they've changed that in their newer reference speakers. My 2+ speakers have the black sock cover. Looks-wise it doesn't bother me, and more importantly my wife thought they were a big improvement over my Apogee Slant 8's. |
nseymour, I think k your telling me for dynamics, movies etc. the Focals are great. However for softer music the SF’s are better. While we do watch movies, our music choice would be female vocalists like Diana Krall, acoustic rock like The Eagles, Poco, Little River Band, with some 70’s R&B thrown in. Do any SF offer front porting? nitrobob, we have the same problem with very Similar AV gear. Please let me know how that Lyngdorf MP40 works out in your live room. Thanks again to everyone! Dave |
I suggest you divorce your wife, sell your home and find something more suitable for sound. Of course I am kidding, I like the Legacy idea. Also the Salk suggestion is a sound one. Jim builds beautiful cabinets. If you could find a good used pair of Daedalus, their cabinetry is second to none and all hardwood construction. What the heck, if it's your last pair then go big! I'm running a pair of Legacy Focus SE's and they are wonderful. Check the specs. They play down to 18K so you will never have to be concerned about bass response. ....and Bill is a great guy! |
I just recently heard Martens Parker Trio speakers in a dealer system with Classe line stage and amp. The system sounded very good—clear, and smooth without sounding muddy or murky. The dealer sells Focal, Magico, and Rockport speakers. I like the Rockports too, but the Martens hold their own, particularly given the price. |
